Riversmead’s ‘award winning’ Bircherley Court provides older people in East Herts with a home for life

Published by SRedford for Network Housing Group Limited in Housing and also in Communities

Riversmead Housing Association’s ‘award winning’ flexicare housing scheme, Bircherley Court in Hertford, was declared officially open by Mark Prisk MP, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, at a celebratory event with residents on Friday 11^th November 2011.

A flagship scheme for East Herts, the former1970s Bircherley Court has been transformed into a state-of-the art living complex, as part of Riversmead’s Older Persons’ Strategy to provide an outstanding place for older people to live. As a flexicare housing scheme, Bircherley Court provides tailored care and support on site 24 hours a day, to meet its residents' changing care needs.

The completion of the £8.2 million redevelopment programme, which includes £2.7 million grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency, is a landmark achievement for Riversmead, the project's contractor Hill Partnerships and architect Kyle Smart Associates.

The new Bircherley Court comprises 70 one and two bed flats. It features a doubled height, glazed atrium and communal facilities including a roof top garden, bathing spa, hair and beauty salon and internet area. Hallways and rooms are large enough to accommodate wheelchairs, bathrooms are equipped with level access showers for ease of use, and each floor is colour coordinated to aid orientation.

Riversmead staff joined residents, local councillors and partners for an afternoon of celebrations. Kevin Brush, Riversmead’s Chair of the Board, and Mark Prisk MP spoke to guests about the redevelopment and the benefits it provides to the residents living at the scheme, and the wider community who can enjoy using the communal facilities.

A hand-made cake of Bircherley Court and ribbon were cut by Mark Prisk MP to commemorate the occasion, and he and other guests toured around the scheme’s facilities. Mark presented resident Zoe Ryder with a bouquet of flowers to mark her 91^st birthday.

Already making an impression, Bircherley Court, has received its first award at Hertford Civic Society’s annual award ceremony for recognition of the redevelopment and its achievement as “a building that has improved the look and nature of the town.”

Mark Prisk MP, said: “A home isn’t about bricks and mortar, it’s actually much more than that. In the past, as a society we have had a habit of putting our older citizens to the edge of town, and yet here at Bircherley Court, we’ve been able to put them back in the middle of the community, which is where they should be.

“The support, encouragement and care of residents, and the staff who are here that provide this, are crucial to ensuring this is genuinely a home in every sense of the word.” 

Steve Henning, Riversmead’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome residents to their new homes at Bircherley Court and wish them much happiness for their future here. It has been a long process, and residents have been supportive and patient throughout, for which we thank them. We have worked together to deliver our vision of creating a fantastic complex for older residents to live in.

“Thank you to East Herts Council and Hertfordshire County Council for their help and support, the Homes and Communities Agency for providing funding for the redevelopment, as well as all other parties who have contributed to making Bircherley Court the state-of-the art flexicare housing scheme we see before us.”

For more information about flexicare housing and Bircherley Court, please call Customer Services on 01992 514 514 or visit www.riversmead.org.uk

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